Sikorsky Will Fly Electric Helicopter This Year

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Sikorsky Will Fly Electric Helicopter This Year

Sikorsky Aircraft says it will build a full-size, piloted electric helicopter this year to explore the benefits of an electrically powered helicopter. The company announced Project Firefly at the Farnborough Airshow outside London and says the electric helicopter will be unveiled at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh next week.

The Firefly is built around the existing S-300C helicopter, a popular two-seat trainer design that was originally built by Hughes Aircraft in the 1950s. The existing 190-horsepower, four-cylinder gasoline engine has been replaced with a 200-horsepower electric motor. Powered by lithium ion batteries, the Firefly will feature new cockpit displays, as well.

Sikorsky says the project is a technology demonstrator designed to enable manned flight of an electric helicopter and to drive the development of improved electric technology for the future. Mark Miller, Sikorsky's head of research and engineering said in a statement the rising costs of fuel threatens the vital role helicopters play in the world.

"It is exciting to be at the forefront of the exploration of electric propulsion technology for rotorcraft."

Miller said recent advancements in the efficiency of electrical propulsion and the inherently simple nature of electric motors make an electric helicopter potentially an attractive option, but admits there are still shortcomings.

"With current energy storage technology, payload and endurance will fall short of typical helicopter performance," Miller said. "These values will grow as rapidly maturing technology is integrated on the demonstrator."

Autopia will report on the continuously growing electric-aircraft trend at Airventure. In addition to Sikorsky's Firefly, several other electric aircraft should be on hand in Oshkosh with flights expected daily.